President of Guatemala facts for kids
Quick facts for kids President of theRepublic of Guatemala |
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Office of the President of Guatemala National Security Council |
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Style | Most Excellent Mr. President of the Republic (official) Mr. President (informal) |
Member of | Cabinet |
Residence | Casa Crema |
Seat | Guatemala City |
Appointer | Supreme Electoral Court |
Term length | Four years, non-renewable |
Constituting instrument | Guatemalan Constitution |
Inaugural holder | Mariano Rivera Paz |
Formation | 3 December 1839 |
Deputy | Vice President of Guatemala |
Salary | 146,950 GTQ monthly ($18,863 as of May 2023) |
The President of Guatemala (in Spanish: Presidente de Guatemala) is the main leader of Guatemala. This person is both the head of state (the country's official representative) and the head of government (the person in charge of running the country). The President is chosen by the people for one four-year term. This important job was created in 1839.
Contents
How is the President Chosen?
Who Can Be President?
To become President of Guatemala, a person must meet certain requirements. These rules are found in Article 185 of the country's Constitution.
Here are the main things needed:
- They must be a Guatemalan citizen from birth.
- They must be at least 40 years old.
However, even if someone meets these requirements, they cannot be President if they:
- Led a coup d'état (a sudden, illegal takeover of the government) or a similar movement that changed the country's laws.
- Were the President or Vice President during an election period.
- Are close relatives of the current President or Vice President before an election.
- Worked as a government minister within six months before the election.
- Are part of the Armed Forces of Guatemala unless they have left the military or retired at least five years before the election.
- Are a minister of any religion.
- Are a judge of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (the court that handles elections).
How Long Does a President Serve?
The President serves for four years. They cannot be re-elected or stay in office longer than their term. Also, if someone has been President for more than two years, they cannot run for the job again in the future.
What Does the President Do?
Article 183 of the Constitution explains the President's many duties and powers. These include:
- Making sure the Constitution and laws are followed.
- Protecting the country and keeping public order.
- Being the leader of the Armed Forces of Guatemala and the National Police.
- Approving and enforcing laws.
- Making emergency rules when there are serious problems, and telling the Congress about them.
- Suggesting new laws to the Congress.
- Being able to veto (reject) laws passed by Congress, unless the Constitution says otherwise.
- Giving a yearly report to Congress about the country's situation and how the government is doing.
- Sending a budget plan to Congress each year, showing how the government will spend money.
- Asking Congress to approve international agreements and contracts for public services.
- Calling special meetings of Congress if the country needs it.
- Leading the Council of Ministers (the Cabinet) to guide the nation's development.
- Being the boss of all officials and employees in the Executive Branch.
- Keeping the country's land safe and respecting its honor.
- Managing foreign policy and international relations, including signing treaties.
- Welcoming diplomats from other countries.
- Managing the country's money according to the law.
- Forgiving fines for people who didn't pay taxes on time due to administrative issues.
- Appointing and removing ministers, ambassadors, and other officials.
- Giving out awards and pensions according to the law.
- Telling Congress about any trips taken outside the country within 15 days.
- Sending a report to Congress every four months about how the budget is being used.
- Doing any other duties given by the Constitution or laws.
What Happens if the President Can't Serve?
Article 189 of the Constitution explains who takes over if the President is unable to continue.
- If the President is away for a short time, the Vice President of Guatemala steps in.
- If the President leaves office permanently, the Vice President becomes President for the rest of the term.
- If both the President and Vice President cannot serve, the Congress chooses a temporary President. They do this by a vote of two-thirds of all the members of Congress.
Past Presidents of Guatemala
Note: Many sources say that Jimmy Morales was the 50th president.
State of Guatemala (1839–1847)
No. | Portrait | Name (Born–Died) |
Time in Office | Political Party | Elected | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Started | Ended | Length of Time | |||||
1 | ![]() |
Mariano Rivera Paz (1804–1849) |
3 December 1839 | 25 February 1842 | 2 years, 84 days | Conservative | — |
2 | ![]() |
José Venancio López (1791–1863) Acting |
25 February 1842 | 14 May 1842 | 78 days | Independent | — |
3 | ![]() |
Mariano Rivera Paz (1804–1849) |
14 May 1842 | 14 December 1844 | 2 years, 214 days | Conservative | — |
4 | ![]() |
Rafael Carrera (1814–1865) |
14 December 1844 | 16 August 1848 | 3 years, 246 days | Conservative | — |
Republic from Carrera to the Liberal Revolution (1847–1871)
No. | Portrait | Name (Born–Died) |
Time in Office | Political Party | Elected | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Started | Ended | Length of Time | |||||
4 | ![]() |
Rafael Carrera (1814–1865) |
14 December 1844 | 16 August 1848 | 3 years, 246 days | Conservative | — |
5 | ![]() |
Juan Antonio Martínez (?–1854) Acting |
16 August 1848 | 28 November 1848 | 104 days | Conservative | — |
6 | ![]() |
José Bernardo Escobar (1797–1849) Acting |
28 November 1848 | 1 January 1849 | 34 days | Conservative | — |
7 | ![]() |
Mariano Paredes (1800–1856) Acting |
1 January 1849 | 6 November 1851 | 2 years, 309 days | Independent | — |
8 | ![]() |
Rafael Carrera (1814–1965) |
6 November 1851 | 14 April 1865 | 13 years, 159 days | Conservative | — |
9 | Pedro de Aycinena y Piñol (1802–1897) Acting |
14 April 1865 | 24 May 1865 | 40 days | Conservative | — | |
10 | ![]() |
Vicente Cerna Sandoval (1815–1885) |
24 May 1865 | 29 June 1871 | 6 years, 36 days | Conservative | — |
Liberal Period (1871–1944)
No. | Portrait | Name (Born–Died) |
Time in Office | Political Party | Elected | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Started | Ended | Length of Time | |||||
11 | ![]() |
Miguel García Granados (1809–1878) |
29 June 1871 | 4 June 1873 | 1 year, 340 days | Liberal | — |
12 | ![]() |
Justo Rufino Barrios (1835–1885) |
4 June 1873 | 2 April 1885 | 11 years, 302 days | Liberal | 1873 1880 |
13 | ![]() |
Alejandro M. Sinibaldi (1825–1896) Acting |
2 April 1885 | 5 April 1885 | 3 days | Liberal | — |
14 | ![]() |
Manuel Barillas (1845–1907) |
6 April 1885 | 15 March 1892 | 6 years, 345 days | Liberal | — |
15 | ![]() |
José María Reina Barrios (1854–1898) |
15 March 1892 | 8 February 1898 | 5 years, 330 days | Liberal | 1892 |
16 | ![]() |
Manuel Estrada Cabrera (1857–1924) |
8 February 1898 | 15 April 1920 | 22 years, 67 days | Liberal | 1898 1904 1910 1916 |
17 | ![]() |
Carlos Herrera (1856–1930) |
15 April 1920 | 10 December 1921 | 1 year, 239 days | Unionist Party | 1920 (Apr) 1920 (Aug) |
18 | ![]() |
José María Orellana (1872–1926) |
10 December 1921 | 26 September 1926 | 4 years, 290 days | Liberal | 1921 1922 |
19 | ![]() |
Lázaro Chacón González (1873–1931) |
26 September 1926 | 12 December 1930 | 4 years, 77 days | Unionist Party | 1926 |
— | ![]() |
Baudilio Palma (1880–1930) Acting |
13 December 1930 | 17 December 1930 | 4 days | Conservative | — |
— | ![]() |
Manuel María Orellana Contreras (1870–1940) De facto |
17 December 1930 | 2 January 1931 | 16 days | Liberal | — |
20 | ![]() |
José María Reina Andrade (1860–1947) Acting |
2 January 1931 | 14 February 1931 | 43 days | Liberal | — |
21 | ![]() |
Jorge Ubico (1878–1946) |
14 February 1931 | 1 July 1944 | 13 years, 138 days | Progressive Liberal Party | 1931 |
22 | ![]() |
Juan Federico Ponce Vaides (1889–1956) Acting |
4 July 1944 | 20 October 1944 | 108 days | Progressive Liberal Party | July 1944 |
The Ten-Year Revolution (1944–1954)
The strict rule of Jorge Ubico, which had lasted since 1931, ended with a revolution on July 4, 1944. This period is known as the "Ten Years of Spring." After many protests by students and workers, Ubico resigned and went to Mexico. He handed power to his First Deputy, Federico Ponce Vaides. Elections were held on July 4, 1944, and Ponce was declared president.
However, the opposition disagreed with the results. So, on October 20, 1944, a group of young military officers overthrew Ponce. They formed a new government called the Revolutionary Government Junta. A new constitution was created, and new elections were held. Juan José Arévalo won in 1944, and Jacobo Árbenz won in 1950. During these years, Guatemala made many social and economic changes, including a big land reform.
No. | Portrait | Name (Born–Died) |
Time in Office | Political Party | Elected | ||
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Started | Ended | Length of Time | |||||
23 | ![]() |
Revolutionary Government Junta | 20 October 1944 | 15 March 1945 | 146 days | Military | — |
24 | ![]() |
Juan José Arévalo (1904–1990) |
15 March 1945 | 15 March 1951 | 6 years | Revolutionary Action Party | 1944 |
25 | ![]() |
Jacobo Árbenz (1913–1971) |
15 March 1951 | 27 June 1954 (Removed from office) |
3 years, 104 days | Revolutionary Action Party / Party of the Guatemalan Revolution |
1950 |
Military Governments (1954–1958)
After Jacobo Árbenz resigned, Colonel Carlos Enrique Díaz, the head of the Armed Forces, took over as provisional president. Díaz quickly formed a temporary government board with Colonels Elfego H. Monzón and José Ángel Sánchez. On June 29, Díaz was forced to step down, and Monzón became the new leader of the board. Monzón then created a new governing board, including Colonel Castillo Armas.
This new board ended after a public vote on October 10, 1954, which allowed Colonel Castillo Armas to become president. Under Castillo Armas, many changes made during the Guatemalan Revolution were stopped. People who opposed the government, as well as unions and farmer groups, were treated harshly.
Castillo Armas was assassinated on July 26, 1957. The Congress then appointed Luis Arturo González as acting president. He was told to call for new elections within four months.
The election was held on October 20, 1957, but the results were canceled because of claims of cheating. President González resigned and gave power to a temporary governing board. This board was led by Óscar Mendoza Azurdia, Gonzalo Yurrita Nova, and Roberto Lorenzana. The new board only governed for two days. Then, Congress appointed Colonel Guillermo Flores Avendaño as acting president. President Avendaño called for elections in January 1958.
No. | Portrait | Name (Born–Died) |
Time in Office | Political Party | Elected | ||
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Started | Ended | Length of Time | |||||
26 | ![]() |
Carlos Enrique Díaz de León (1915–2014) Provisional President |
27 June 1954 | 29 June 1954 | 2 days | Military | — |
27 | ![]() |
Elfego Hernán Monzón Aguirre (1912–1981) Chairman of Military Junta |
29 June 1954 | 8 July 1954 | 9 days | Military | — |
28 | ![]() |
Carlos Castillo Armas (1914–1957) |
8 July 1954 | 26 July 1957 | 3 years, 18 days | National Liberation Movement | 1954 |
29 | ![]() |
Luis Arturo González López (1900–1965) Acting |
27 July 1957 | 24 October 1957 | 89 days | Independent | — |
30 | ![]() |
Óscar Mendoza Azurdia (1917–1995) Chairman of Military Junta |
24 October 1957 | 26 October 1957 | 2 days | Military | — |
31 | ![]() |
Guillermo Flores Avendaño (1894–1982) Acting |
26 October 1957 | 2 March 1958 | 129 days | Military | — |
Civil War Period (1958–1996)
No. | Portrait | Name (Born–Died) |
Time in Office | Political Party | Elected | ||
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Started | Ended | Length of Time | |||||
32 | ![]() |
Miguel Ydígoras Fuentes (1895–1982) |
2 March 1958 | 31 March 1963 (Removed from office) |
5 years, 29 days | Military / REDENCION |
1958 |
33 | ![]() |
Enrique Peralta Azurdia (1908–1997) |
31 March 1963 | 1 July 1966 | 3 years, 92 days | Institutional Democratic Party | — |
34 | ![]() |
Julio César Méndez Montenegro (1915–1996) |
1 July 1966 | 1 July 1970 | 4 years | Revolutionary Party | 1966 |
35 | ![]() |
Carlos Manuel Arana Osorio (1918–2003) |
1 July 1970 | 1 July 1974 | 4 years | Institutional Democratic Party | 1970 |
36 | ![]() |
Kjell Eugenio Laugerud García (1930–2009) |
1 July 1974 | 1 July 1978 | 4 years | Institutional Democratic Party | 1974 |
37 | ![]() |
Fernando Romeo Lucas García (1924–2006) |
1 July 1978 | 23 March 1982 (Removed from office) |
3 years, 265 days | Institutional Democratic Party | 1978 |
38 | ![]() |
Efraín Ríos Montt (1926–2018) |
23 March 1982 | 8 August 1983 (Removed from office) |
1 year, 138 days | Military | — |
39 | ![]() |
Óscar Humberto Mejía Víctores (1930–2016) |
8 August 1983 | 14 January 1986 | 2 years, 159 days | Military | — |
40 | ![]() |
Vinicio Cerezo (born 1942) |
14 January 1986 | 14 January 1991 | 5 years | Guatemalan Christian Democracy | 1985 |
41 | ![]() |
Jorge Serrano Elías (born 1945) |
14 January 1991 | 1 June 1993 (Resigned) |
2 years, 138 days | Solidarity Action Movement | 1990 |
42 | ![]() |
Gustavo Adolfo Espina Salguero (1946–2024) Acting |
1 June 1993 | 5 June 1993 | 4 days | Solidarity Action Movement | — |
43 | ![]() |
Ramiro de León Carpio (1942–2002) |
6 June 1993 | 14 January 1996 | 2 years, 222 days | Independent | 1993 |
Modern Era (1996–Present)
No. | Portrait | Name (Born–Died) |
Time in Office | Political Party | Elected | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Started | Ended | Length of Time | |||||
44 | ![]() |
Álvaro Arzú (1946–2018) |
14 January 1996 | 14 January 2000 | 4 years | National Advancement Party / Unionist Party |
1995–1996 |
45 | ![]() |
Alfonso Portillo (born 1951) |
14 January 2000 | 14 January 2004 | 4 years | Guatemalan Republican Front | 1999 |
46 | ![]() |
Óscar Berger (born 1946) |
14 January 2004 | 14 January 2008 | 4 years | National Solidarity Party / Grand National Alliance |
2003 |
47 | ![]() |
Álvaro Colom (1951–2023) |
14 January 2008 | 14 January 2012 | 4 years | National Unity of Hope | 2007 |
48 | ![]() |
Otto Pérez Molina (born 1950) |
14 January 2012 | 3 September 2015 (Resigned) |
3 years, 232 days | Patriotic Party / Grand National Alliance |
2011 |
49 | ![]() |
Alejandro Maldonado (born 1936) Acting |
3 September 2015 | 14 January 2016 | 133 days | Independent | — |
50 | ![]() |
Jimmy Morales (born 1969) |
14 January 2016 | 14 January 2020 | 4 years | National Convergence Front | 2015 |
51 | ![]() |
Alejandro Giammattei (born 1956) |
14 January 2020 | 14 January 2024 | 4 years | Vamos | 2019 |
52 | ![]() |
Bernardo Arévalo (born 1958) |
14 January 2024 | Incumbent | 1 year, 153 days | Semilla | 2023 |
Timeline of Presidents

Latest Election Results
Candidate | Running mate | Party | First round | Second round | |||
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Votes | % | Votes | % | ||||
Sandra Torres | Romeo Guerra | National Unity of Hope | 881,592 | 20.98 | 1,567,664 | 39.09 | |
Bernardo Arévalo | Karin Herrera | Semilla | 654,534 | 15.58 | 2,442,718 | 60.91 | |
Manuel Conde | Luis Antonio Suárez | Vamos | 435,631 | 10.37 | |||
Armando Castillo | Édgar Grisolia | Vision with Values | 404,059 | 9.61 | |||
Edmond Mulet | Máximo Santa Cruz | Cabal | 371,857 | 8.85 | |||
Zury Ríos | Héctor Cifuentes | Valor–Unionist | 365,028 | 8.69 | |||
Manuel Villacorta | Jorge Mario García | Will, Opportunity and Solidarity | 238,686 | 5.68 | |||
Giovanni Reyes | Óscar Figueroa | Bienestar Nacional | 141,714 | 3.37 | |||
Amílcar Rivera | Fernando Mazariegos | Victory | 135,591 | 3.23 | |||
Amílcar Pop | Mónica Enríquez | Winaq–URNG–MAIZ | 87,676 | 2.09 | |||
Ricardo Sagastume | Guillermo González | Todos | 76,582 | 1.82 | |||
Rudy Guzmán | Diego González | Nosotros | 66,116 | 1.57 | |||
Isaac Farchi | Mauricio Zaldaña | Blue Party | 61,472 | 1.46 | |||
Julio Rivera | José Urrutia | My Family | 46,092 | 1.10 | |||
Francisco Arredondo | Francisco Bermúdez | Commitment, Renewal and Order | 41,948 | 1.00 | |||
Giulio Talamonti | Óscar Barrientos | Republican Union | 40,358 | 0.96 | |||
Hugo Peña | Hugo Johnson | Elephant Community | 39,271 | 0.93 | |||
Rudio Lecsan Mérida | Rubén Darío Rosales | Humanist Party | 34,285 | 0.82 | |||
Rafael Espada | Arturo Herrador | Republican Party | 32,139 | 0.76 | |||
Sammy Morales | Miguel Ángel Moir | National Convergence Front | 22,316 | 0.53 | |||
Álvaro Trujillo | Miguel Ángel Ibarra | Change | 17,715 | 0.42 | |||
Luis Lam Padilla | Otto Marroquín | National Integration Party | 7,780 | 0.19 | |||
Total | 4,202,442 | 100.00 | 4,010,382 | 100.00 | |||
Valid votes | 4,202,442 | 75.62 | 4,010,382 | 95.25 | |||
Invalid votes | 966,389 | 17.39 | 147,165 | 3.50 | |||
Blank votes | 388,442 | 6.99 | 52,687 | 1.25 | |||
Total votes | 5,557,273 | 100.00 | 4,210,234 | 100.00 | |||
Registered voters/turnout | 9,249,794 | 60.08 | 9,361,068 | 44.98 | |||
Source: TSE (first round; 99.13% counted) TSE (second round; 100% counted) |
See also
In Spanish: Presidente de Guatemala para niños